3/30/2015 |
Hurdle: Bucs to bring 'pack mentality' to new seasonApproaching his fifth season as Pirates manager, Clint Hurdle took time out of a typically busy Spring Training day to wax enthusiastically about the 2015 season, and what it might hold for a team looking to take the next step.

3/30/2015 |
Alvarez's grand slam caps homer-filled McKechnie finaleStarling Marte, Tony Sanchez, Pedro Florimon and Pedro Alvarez hit two-run homers, Josh Harrison added a solo job and Alvarez capped the homers with a grand slam Monday as the Pirates downed the Phillies, 18-4, in the Bucs' final Grapefruit League home game, which was marred by a benches-clearing fracas.

3/30/2015 |
Bucs confident Holdzkom will pitch meaningful gamesIf it was up to them, Triple-A hitters could petition the Pirates to keep John Holdzkom and his 98-mph cutter out of the International League. That isn't an option. However, sending Holdzkom to Indianapolis is a Pirates option -- one they are likely to use when finalizing the makeup of their season-opening bullpen.

3/29/2015 |
Kang proving himself after time in Pirate CityJung Ho Kang's 2-for-4 vs. the Braves gave him three hits in his last eight at-bats, after three in his first 27 at-bats. Those last eight at-bats have come since Kang took a big league timeout at Pirate City, the place that seems to refresh all slumping Pirates.

3/29/2015 |
Kang breaks slump at plate with two-hit gamePirates second baseman Jung Ho Kang halted his recent woes with a two-hit performance that was highlighted by the two-run, ninth-inning home run he drilled off Michael Kohn during Sunday afternoon's 4-2 win over the Braves at Champion Stadium.

3/29/2015 |
Cole can reach potential at perfect time for PiratesWhen the games have meant the most and the pressure cranked the highest, Gerrit Cole has been at his best. Isn't that what they say about the all the great ones? OK, slow down. He's not there yet. He's 24 years old and has made just 41 career starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates these last two seasons.

3/28/2015 |
Morton makes progress with effective outingThe Pirates' brain trust typically takes a meeting to discuss personnel decisions, with everyone from manager Clint Hurdle to general manager Neal Huntington involved. They may have to put their heads together on Charlie Morton's season-opening fate.

3/28/2015 |
Sanchez enjoying benefits of tweet-free springTo baseball fans from coast to coast, it has been dramatically apparent for months that there is something different about this Tony Sanchez in the Pirates' Spring Training camp. It hasn't been the fact that this Sanchez has lots of hits. Rather, it's the fact this Sanchez doesn't have any tweets.

3/28/2015 |
Polanco hits 2nd homer in 2 days to propel BucsCharlie Morton put in a claim for his inclusion in Pittsburgh's season-opening rotation with six solid innings, and Gregory Polanco struck his second homer in as many days as the Pirates downed a Toronto split-squad, 8-3, in Grapefruit League play Saturday.

3/27/2015 |
In meet-and-greet, Manfred praises Pirates brassRob Manfred stopped by Hammond Stadium on Friday to introduce himself to Twins and Pirates players, but Major League Baseball's 10th Commissioner didn't need an introduction to the braintrust that has steered the Buccos back on a winning track.

3/27/2015 |
Solo blasts power Pirates past TwinsGregory Polanco and Tony Sanchez both homered to help carry the Pirates to a 4-2 win over the Twins on Friday at Hammond Stadium. The game was called in the eighth inning due to rain.

3/27/2015 |
Tabata among 12 sent to Bucs' Minor League campVeteran infielders Steve Lombardozzi and Brent Morel and outfielder Jose Tabata were among 11 players reassigned to Minor League camp on Friday by the Pirates, who also optioned left-hander Bobby LaFromboise to Triple-A.

3/26/2015 |
Richard focusing on contributing, not his opt-out clauseLeft-hander Clayton Richard's name comes up just about every time Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is asked about his club's rotation depth. It happened again after Richard pitched Thursday against the Braves. "Clayton is a guy you have to talk about," Hurdle said.

3/26/2015 |
In possibly his final rotation bid, Worley shows resiliencyWith the Pirates set to make a decision soon about their final rotation spot, Vance Worley made what could be his final argument for the job Thursday. The final line wasn't pretty -- five runs on seven hits over six innings -- but Worley was victimized by one bad inning. The rest of the way, he was all but untouchable.

3/26/2015 |
Likely to lead off, Harrison not concerned with spot in orderSpring Training lineups don't often reflect the real deal come Opening Day, but the Pirates have trotted out something close to their everyday squad each of the past two games. The constants between those lineups were clear: Josh Harrison first, Andrew McCutchen third and Starling Marte fifth. Not that it's on their minds at this point.

3/26/2015 |
Harrison, Walker homer as Bucs rally, then fall to BravesThe Braves jumped out to a five-run lead in the first inning off Pirates starter Vance Worley and beat the Bucs, 7-5, on Thursday afternoon at McKechnie Field. After the Pirates chipped away at the deficit and tied the game in the eighth, Atlanta's Jonny Gomes led off the ninth with a homer. Neil Walker and Josh Harrison went deep for the Bucs.

3/26/2015 |
Hair Cutch: Pirates star happy with new 'doPirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen arrived at McKechnie Field on Thursday morning sporting a newly shorn look after cutting off his trademark dreadlocks, which will be auctioned off to benefit Pirates Charities.

3/24/2015 |
McCutchen not worried about being ready for seasonIn giving some insight into why he chose to lay low for a dozen days with generic "lower-body soreness," Andrew McCutchen also gave some insight into his makeup. "There was no sense pushing it," McCutchen said on Tuesday following his first game action since Mar. 12. "I'll make it worse when it counts."

3/24/2015 |
McCutchen returns to lineup as Pirates fall to OriolesPirates All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen played four innings in his return to the lineup after a 12-day layoff with "lower-body soreness." McCutchen went 0-for-2 and smoothly fielded several balls hit his way but the Orioles went on to down Pittsburgh, 9-2.